Europe's 'yes' to challenge to China

Europe's 'yes' to challenge to China

Lithuania is a small country in Europe. However, the nation has decided to withdraw from the China-led CEEC (China and Middle East European Cooperation Forum).

The decision by Lithuania, which has a population of less than 2.8 million, is seen as a direct challenge to China.
The forum was set up by China in 2012. This is also called 17 + 1. Lithuania itself decided to withdraw from the forum. Moreover, other nations have also been advised to opt out.
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He said the platform was divisive. He also said that the nations of the European Union should work together to engage with China.
Their emphasis was on the unity and power of Europe. Lithuania has been in a state of confusion about CEEC for the past several months.
China and Lithuania flags
According to the Baltic Times, in 2019, Lithuania's State Security and Second Investigation Department reported in the National Threat Assessment that China's political and economic ambitions were growing among Lithuania, NATO and other EU member states, as well as China's intelligence.
On the other hand, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Chao Lijian gave a long answer to the Lithuanian question.
He says small and big incidents will not affect the China-led CEEC forum. Lijian said, "The China-CEEC Forum is a joint venture between China and the Middle East for inter-regional cooperation.
It is a symbol of our aspiration for cooperation and shared development for both. Nine years after its establishment, China-CEEC cooperation has shown good results." In addition, the people of the participating countries benefit greatly. "
China has always viewed this arrangement as a useful and important factor in Sino-European relations and welcomes the cooperation of other nations and international organizations.
What is CEEC?
China set up the forum in 2012 with the aim of enhancing cooperation with Central and Eastern European nations. Lithuania has decided to withdraw from the forum.
It now includes Albania, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia.
CEC
 
The organization was founded in 2012 in Warsaw, Poland. Since then the summit of this forum is held every year in different nations. The summit was canceled in 2020 due to the Corona crisis.
Another project, China's Belt and Road, is aimed at boosting trade and investment through CEEC.
The E763 highway project in Serbia was launched under CEEC. In addition, work on the Budapost-Belgrade Railway and the China-Europe Land-Sea Express Line began under CEEC. In addition, various projects were implemented in several other member nations.
According to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, trade between China and the CEEC reached .7 58.7 billion in 2016. China's investment in member nations was more than 8 8 billion.
China's tendency and Lithuania's decision
Although the Foreign Ministry did not make a strong statement on Lithuania itself, China's official Global Times newspaper quoted US sources as saying that Lithuania was under pressure.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania
 
Photo caption,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania
Lithuania's decision is also linked to the strained relations between China and the European Union. Along with the European Union, Lithuania also raised the issue of alleged persecution of non-Muslims in China.
Last week, the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly to freeze the process for ratification of the European Union's investment agreement with China. The European Parliament has said that the ban will remain in place until China lifts the sanctions imposed on EU representatives.
The European Union has imposed sanctions on officials in Xinjiang province over the issue of non-Muslims. In response, China imposed sanctions on EU representatives. 

 
China has blamed the European Union for the strained relations. On Friday, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman advised the European Union to focus less on emotional response and more on rational thinking.
Speaking to Global Times, Cui Hongjian, director of European studies at the China Institute of International Studies, said